No Pakistan at Hockey world cup
Defending Asian Games title will be an uphill task as other teams will be better prepared after featuring in World Cup
The last triumph was in the high profile event in 1994 in Sydney, and since then it has all been downhill, thanks to the inept management and short-sighted policies of those in charge of hockey. PHOTO: AFP
Four-time champion Pakistan is the only leading hockey nation that has failed to make it to the 13th edition of the World Cup currently taking place in the Netherlands. The absence of the green shirts from the coveted event is appalling to say the least, especially since Pakistan introduced the concept of a world championship for the sport in the 70s. In fact, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) even gifted the trophy to kick-start the event.
Three out of the first five World Cup tournaments were bagged by the stalwarts of the golden era of national hockey. The Asian wizards were crowned champions in the 1971, 1978 and 1982 editions besides making it to the final in 1975. The last triumph was in the high profile event in 1994 in Sydney, and since then it has all been downhill, thanks to the inept management and short-sighted policies of those in charge of hockey.
In the last two decades, the performance at arguably the biggest global event in the sport has been mediocre at best with the nadir touched in the 2010 edition in Delhi. Pakistan finished with the wooden spoon after losing the 11th position play-off against South Africa. Last year the green shirts lost the World Cup qualifiers in Malaysia before bowing out in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup — the last qualifying opportunity for Asian teams.
The present regime of the PHF has started a so called ‘rebuilding’ process with an eye on the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and the next World Cup four years down the road. Their immediate target is attaining a direct berth in the Olympics by winning the Asian Games later in the year. Pakistan is the defending champion after winning the gold in Guangzhou in 2010. It goes without saying that retaining the title in the Asian Games is set to be another uphill battle for the eight-time champions considering the fact that the likes of India, Korea and Malaysia will take the field battle-hardened after featuring in the World Cup.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2014.
Three out of the first five World Cup tournaments were bagged by the stalwarts of the golden era of national hockey. The Asian wizards were crowned champions in the 1971, 1978 and 1982 editions besides making it to the final in 1975. The last triumph was in the high profile event in 1994 in Sydney, and since then it has all been downhill, thanks to the inept management and short-sighted policies of those in charge of hockey.
In the last two decades, the performance at arguably the biggest global event in the sport has been mediocre at best with the nadir touched in the 2010 edition in Delhi. Pakistan finished with the wooden spoon after losing the 11th position play-off against South Africa. Last year the green shirts lost the World Cup qualifiers in Malaysia before bowing out in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup — the last qualifying opportunity for Asian teams.
The present regime of the PHF has started a so called ‘rebuilding’ process with an eye on the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and the next World Cup four years down the road. Their immediate target is attaining a direct berth in the Olympics by winning the Asian Games later in the year. Pakistan is the defending champion after winning the gold in Guangzhou in 2010. It goes without saying that retaining the title in the Asian Games is set to be another uphill battle for the eight-time champions considering the fact that the likes of India, Korea and Malaysia will take the field battle-hardened after featuring in the World Cup.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2014.